Nothing wakes you up for adventure like a damn fine cup of coffee, but how do you get that professional finish? Here’s how to start the day in frothy, flavoursome style with our top barista-style coffee tips for in a hostel. Or, if you’re on the move, try our cheats for making good coffee in the great outdoors. You can even check out the delicious Cafeology drinks we offer at YHA Cafés.
Tips for making coffee at a hostel
Whether you love plunging your cafetiere, or roast your own beans (now that’s dedication), here are some things to keep in mind while you’re brewing in the self-catering kitchen.
Beans: Look after your beans for a beautiful brew. They taste best just a couple of weeks after they’ve been roasted and should be stored in a dark, airtight container.
Grinding: Coffee starts to go stale minutes after it’s been ground, so spoil yourself and grind your own. Research how coarse or fine your beans should be for the coffee variety you’re after.
Water:Â Want your coffee super smooth? Hard water areas will benefit from a water filter. Leave boiled water to cool for about 20-30 seconds before brewing, to get a perfect flavour.
Brewing: Unless you have a machine to do the hard work for you, experiment with brew times to find your ideal strength – plungers and cafetieres usually take around 4 minutes to brew.
Milk:Â For an easy way to create that frothy finish, shake a jar of milk until it becomes frothy and then microwave for 30 seconds; the foam will rise to the top and you can scoop it on!
Making coffee while camping
No coffee machine? If you’ve climbed a mountain, survived the Camden Pub Crawl or made peace with Mr or Mrs Snore, you can make freshly ground coffee anywhere. This rugged method doesn’t need a kettle, so you can get your caffeine fix even if you’re living in the wilderness.
1. Attach a piece of fabric to a cup with an elastic band or paper clips – this is your filter.
2. Grind your favourite fresh coffee beans using a miniature, manual coffee grinder.
3. Boil some water in a saucepan or mess tin over a stove, then leave to cool for 30 seconds.
4. Add your coffee to the centre of the filter and gradually pour over the water.
5. Make it your own with milk and sugar, then enjoy.
Top tip:Â Experiment and practice at home to pin down your perfect grind and brewing time, and remember to transport your precious beans in an airtight container. Many of our self-catering kitchens are fully-equipped with a cafetiere too, so you can feel right at home.
YHA Cafés and Cafeology
YHA now offer a number of fantastic YHA Cafés at some of our most scenic locations – they’re open to the public so pop in and join us for a barista-style coffee. How about enjoying your fave blend with a mountain view at YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass, surrounded by history at YHA Ironbridge Coalport, or by the beach at YHA Broad Haven?
Also, did you know that all the barista-style coffee and tea we serve at hostels is Fairtrade? We’re doing our bit by sourcing our products from sustainable, socially-conscious sources – and our drinks still taste fab. You’ve probably seen our shiny new coffee machines in our hostel cafes too. During the festive season you can catch quirky specials like Gingerbread Latte, but here are some of our all-round favourites. We won’t blame you for treating yourself after a long day outdoors!
Espresso – small but mighty, this deep brown variety has a real kick
Americano – espresso with added hot water, for a gentler option
Cappuccino – espresso and hot milk, topped with frothy foamed milk
Café Latte – any kind of coffee and hot milk, topped with milk foam
Mocha – add some sweetness to your latte with added chocolate
Hot Chocolate – a favourite antidote to achy muscles – ours is irresistible
Tea – no froth, no syrup, just a friendly beige comfort blanket in a cup
